Global/International Funds

Global/International Funds

What is a Global/International Funds?
An international fund (or foreign fund) invests only outside your home country. Global funds invest anywhere around the world, including your home country.
It's tough to classify these funds as either riskier or safer than domestic investments. They do tend to be more volatile and have unique country and/or political risks. But, on the flip side, they can, as part of a well-balanced portfolio, actually reduce risk by increasing diversification. Although the world's economies are becoming more inter-related, it is likely that another economy somewhere is outperforming the economy of your home country.
'Global Fund' A type of mutual fund, closed-end fund or exchange-traded fund that can invest in companies located anywhere in the world, including the investor's own country. These funds provide more global opportunities for diversification and act as a hedge against inflation and currency risks.
Many people confuse a global fund with an international, or foreign, fund. The difference is that a global fund includes the entire world, whereas an international/foreign fund includes the entire world except for companies in the investor's home country.